On Wednesday, March 21, the Estero Village Council is expected to decide whether to allow NCH Healthcare System’s proposed 24/7 emergency room, which would be built across the street from Coconut Point mall.

NCH has requested changes to the site its proposed 40,000-square-foot, two-story medical complex on Lyden Drive, west of U.S. 41. The changes would allow NCH to operate the emergency room.

The NCH facility would include medical offices, a testing facility and a 12,000-square-foot emergency department, according to village documents.

The staff analysis says an ER is not permitted under the list of uses for the property across from Coconut Point and that 24/7 emergency hours are not compatible with nearby residential community Marsh Landing and other commercial developments.

NCH has argued an ER is allowed on the property and the operating hours restriction should be lifted because state licensing requires 24/7 hours for emergency departments, according to the staff report.

The staff report also does not recommend approving the building height deviation or service facility placement.

In addition, the staff report questions the impact of ambulance noise on the surrounding area.

The proposed NCH facility would be located less than a mile from Lee Health at Coconut Point, the $140 million medical complex under construction east of U.S. 41 and south of Coconut Road, according to the village.

NCH and Lee Health have sparred over ownership of south Lee County for years.

In previous village meetings, many Estero residents have publicly spoken against the NCH facility due to its close location to Lee Health at Coconut Point.

Despite those comments, village staff have explained that the future Lee Health location is not part of the NCH zoning decision.

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